Lighter

ABSTRACT

A lighter actuated by a push-control member (24) which can move in a longitudinal direction, and which resists use by children, comprising a lighter-body (2) and lighting means comprising said push-control member. The push-control member (24) is guided in two essentially perpendicular directions, a longitudinal direction (36) in relation to the lighter body (2) and a transverse direction (38, 56, 60) in relation to the lighter body (2). The push-control member (24) has an abutment face (34, 46, 52, 53) which is normally opposite a counter-abutment surface (34, 44, 2) integral with the lighter-body (2), and the push-control member (24) is displaceable in the transverse direction (38, 56, 60) such that its abutment face is then in a non-active position relative to its counter-abutment surface. Elastic means (40, 54, 58, 41, 62) comprising an elastic tongue member extending longitudinally and deformable transversely in accordance with transverse movement of the push-control member (24), act in a transverse direction (38, 56, 60) to return the abutment face of the push-control member to a position opposite the counter-abutment surface, means being provided to return the push-control member (24) into a position of rest in the longitudinal direction. Said elastic means may comprise a U-shaped metallic strip, one branch of which being elastically deformable, the second branch acting as an electrode forming electrical contact with the conductive material of a piezoelectric lighting system.

The present invention concerns a lighter which is actuated by apush-control means which can be moved in a longitudinal direction, andresists use by children. This type of activation is found, for example,in piezoelectric lighters, and also with a lighting mechanism of a kindcomprising a pyrophoric stone and a knurling wheel. By pressing on apush-control, a user of this lighter simultaneously controls productionof a spark and opening of a valve through which gas escapes, therebyenabling formation of a flame.

This type of lighter is very simple to use as it is only necessary topress on a push-control to create a flame. Attempts are therefore beingmade to make it more difficult to use such lighters so that children ofless than five years in age cannot produce a flame with them.

It is known for lighters of this type, resisting use by children, to beproduced.

In these lighters, there are means of neutralising the associatedlighting mechanism, these means being mobile between an active positionof neutralisation in which they prevent actuation of the lightingmechanism, and a non-active position in which they allow this actuation,it being possible for a user to manually move these mobile means fromtheir active position of neutralisation to their non-active position.

This type of lighter is particularly known from a German utility model88 02 582.9. However, in this lighter, neutralisation means concernedare not implemented to be automatically returned to an active positionof neutralisation after actuation of a lighting mechanism concerned.

This return into an active position can therefore only be obtained bytheir operation in a reverse direction by a user.

It is easy to imagine that merely forgetting this latter operationcompletely negates advantages associated with presence of neutralisationmeans.

Document WO 90/12254 shows a gas-lighter with a lighting mechanismcomprising means of controlling opening of a burner valve and means ofproducing sparks. In this lighter with a lighting mechanism, there areassociated means of neutralising this mechanism which are mobile betweenan active position of neutralisation of a lighting mechanism concernedand a non-active position, these neutralisation means being manuallymovable, by a user, from their active position to their non-activeposition. Means of neutralising lighting are normally kept in aneutralising position and are, moreover, implemented to be automaticallyreturned to a neutralising position, after actuation of a lightingmechanism concerned.

Although fully satisfactory concerning its functioning, a lighter inaccordance with a latter document has a drawback of requiring presenceof supplementary parts, making its assembly more complex and increasing,by a substantial extent, its break-even-point.

To overcome these drawbacks, a French patent FR 2 675 885 provides alighter in which a control member is mounted such that it can slide andis provided with a skirt. An elastically deformable tongue is cut intothis skirt such that, in an area of its free rim, there is an abutmentface normally opposite a counter-abutment surface which is part of thebody of the lighter concerned, this tongue being elastically andtransversally movable such that its abutment face is brought into anon-active position in relation to a counter-abutment surface of thesaid body and therefore allowing pressing down of an actuating sectionof the control member in the direction of its lighting operation.

This lighter has the drawback of having to first act on a said tongue,and then on a control member, in order for a flame to be obtained. It istherefore necessary to act at two points to use a lighter concerned.

The present invention is therefore aimed at providing a lighter whichcan be used by an adult, yet which is difficult for a child to use,particularly a child of less than five years of age. Another aim is tosupply an impregnable safety-system, that is, one held in aneutralisation position. In addition, unlocking is to occur at the samepoint as lighting action.

To this end, the present invention puts forward a lighter actuated by apush-control member which can move in a longitudinal direction, andwhich resists use by children, of a type comprising a lighter-body andlighting means comprising a push-control member. This lighter ischaracterised in that the push-control member concerned is guided in twoessentially perpendicular directions, a first direction which islongitudinal in relation to the said lighter-body and a second directionwhich is transverse in relation to the same body, and in that the saidpush-control member is provided with an abutment face which is normallyopposite a counter-abutment surface forming part of the saidlighter-body, and in that the said push-control member can be moved in atransverse direction such that its abutment face is then in a non-activeposition in relation to its counter-abutment surface, and in thatelastic means act in a transverse direction to return the said abutmentface of the push-control member to a position opposite the saidcounter-abutment surface, means being provided to return the saidpush-control member into a position of rest in the longitudinaldirection concerned.

So, thanks to surfaces of abutment and counter-abutment and to theirrelative positions, it is not possible to actuate the said push-controlmember in a longitudinal direction, from a normal position or positionof rest. It is therefore necessary to move this push-control membertransversely before moving it in a longitudinal direction. Saidtransverse movement makes it possible to render the surfaces of abutmentand counter-abutment inactive. To actuate the lighting mechanism of thelighter concerned, the user only needs to place a finger or thumb on theupper face of the push-control member to push this in a transversedirection (this movement is possible either because of friction orbecause of an adapted form of the push-control member concerned) andthen to press on the said push-control member in a longitudinaldirection. It is therefore enough to act on one same section of thepush-control member to operate the lighter.

Elastic means cause the said push-control member to automatically returnto an idle position. Means of returning the push-control memberconcerned into an idle position in a longitudinal direction are alreadyknown and have been used for a long time with lighters actuated by apush-control member.

Said elastic means advantageously act on the push-control member on theside opposite the side carrying an abutment face.

The present invention offers several forms of implementation for elasticmeans returning a push-control member to its idle position in atransverse direction. In a first implementation, elastic means concernedcomprise an elastic tongue-member, essentially extending in thelongitudinal direction of the lighter-body, which can be deformed in atransverse direction by transverse movement of the push-control memberand is integral with the push-control member.

In another implementation of a piezoelectric lighter, elastic meanscomprise an elastic tongue-member essentially extending in thelongitudinal direction of the lighter, deformable in the transversedirection of movement of the push-control member and integral with theelectrode carrier. Advantageously, the said elastic tongue-member,mounted on the electrode-carrier, parts from this carrier and moves awayfrom it upwardly. This arrangement enables the tongue-member to be idlewhen the push-control member is in an idle position and when it is atthe end of its course. The said tongue-member is therefore onlyconstrained when the push-control member is moved and is located in anintermediate position.

In an advantageous implementation of a piezoelectric lighter, elasticmeans comprise a metal strip, which is essentially U-shaped, carried bya wall which is part of the lighter body and positioned nearly parallelto the wall of the said push-control member, one of the branches of thesaid blade being supported against the wall of this push-control memberand being elastically deformable, the second branch being curved at itsend and acting as an electrode, and the piezoelectric lighting mechanismconcerned has at least one section made from conductive material suchthat it can create an electrical link with the elastic strip at the endof the longitudinal course of the push-control member.

For this latter variation, elastic means concerned are connected neitherto a push-control member nor to the body of the lighter concerned,comprising instead an independent piece which also, cleverly, functionsas an electrode.

The present invention also offers designs for implementing abutment andcounter-abutment surfaces. So, in a first variation, an abutment face isrealised as a shoulder of a push-control member. A counter-abutmentsurface can then be a shoulder member implemented as a wall-section ofthe lighter body, or it can comprise a rim of the said lighter-body.

In another form of implementation, the face of counter-abutment is a topof a rib which runs essentially longitudinally, and the saidpush-control member includes a wall-member forming a projection,parallel to the said rib-member, with a height whereby, when apush-control member is moved in a transverse direction, from its idleposition, it does not come up against the said rib, and placed such thatwhen the said push-control member is moved from its idle position in alongitudinal direction, an internal surface of a wall-member concerned,forming a projection, slides along the said rib-member.

In this latter variation, if, instead of first moving the push-controlmember concerned in a transverse direction, it is first of all displacedin a longitudinal direction, it is thus in the locked position and it istherefore necessary to let it return to the idle position to be able touse the lighter. Thus, as for other forms of implementation of a lighterin accordance with the present invention, the push-control member onlyallows lighting of the lighter when sequences to slide the saidpush-control member are correctly carried out.

The rib-member concerned can be an element added to the lighter-body, orit can be a rib-member which is already present on a lighter-body ofpreceding state of the art, such as, for example, the wall of a saidlighter-body.

In these various implementations, longitudinal guiding of thepush-control member is advantageously implemented with the aid of asystem of ribs, each of which is associated with a groove, a saidpush-control member being provided with two rib-members and thelighter-body concerned being provided with two corresponding grooves,said grooves stopping below said rib members in the idle position of thepush-control member and being shifted transversely in relation to these,such that ribs concerned are engaged in grooves when the push-controlmember has been moved transversely and starts its longitudinal course.

Of course, the grooves concerned can be formed on the push-controlmember and the rib-members concerned can be formed on the lighter body.There is, therefore, the same relative shift between rib-members andgrooves, rib-members concerned then being located below grooves in theidle position of the push-control member.

Nevertheless, the present invention will be well understood with the aidof the description that follows, referring to an annexed diagrammaticillustration, representing, in non-limiting terms, severalimplementations of a lighter in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are partial longitudinal sections of a firstimplementation, in three successive, different positions during lightingof the lighter,

FIGS. 4 to 7 are partial longitudinal sections of a secondimplementation showing different positions of means of controllinglighting of the lighter,

FIGS. 8 to 10 are partial longitudinal sections of a thirdimplementation in three successive positions,

FIGS. 11 to 13 correspond to a fourth implementation, likewise shown asa partial longitudinal section,

FIGS. 14 to 16 are sectional views along line A--A in FIG. 1, though fora fifth implementation, and

FIGS. 17 to 19 are partial longitudinal sections of a sixthimplementation.

These diagrams show partly different implementations of a gas-lighter.Such a lighter has a body 2 functioning as a reservoir to hold the fuelof liquefied petroleum gases.

On its upper part, the said reservoir is provided with a burner 4 whichincludes a valve enabling gas to escape when it is in an open position.A control lever 6, mounted pivoting about a transverse axis 8, controlsopening and closure of the valve of the burner 4. A protectioncover-member 10 enables protection from wind of the upper part of theburner 4 to enable the creation of a flame.

In the various implementations shown, the lighter shown is one includinga piezoelectric-type lighting mechanism. This mechanism includes, in aknown way, an upper section 12 which is moveable in the direction of alower part 14, set against the force of a return spring which cannot beseen in annexed diagrams. A second spring 16 is placed between the lowersection 14 and the lighter body and acts longitudinally (FIG. 1).Moreover, two electrodes are provided. A first electrode 18 comprisesthe upper end of the burner and a second electrode 20 is mounted on anelectrode-carrier 22 close to the said first electrode 18.

The said electrode-carrier 22 has a known structure and isconventionally mounted.

The lighter-control member concerned comprises a push-control member 24overlapping the moving upper section 12 of the said lighting mechanism.This push-control member 24 is moved, in relation to a body of a lighter2, by the person using a lighter.

When a user puts pressure on the push-control member 24, this producesmovement of the lower section 14 against the spring 16, and alsoproduces a movement of the mobile section 12 towards the said lowersection 14. Movement of this lower section 14 produces, first, openingof a valve integrated into the burner 4, and setting up of an electricalcontact with the first electrode 18, whilst movement of the mobilesection 12 towards the lower section 14 afterwards produces a spark.

The moving section 12 of the mechanism concerned also includes ananvil-shaped form on the side facing the push-control member 24, thatis, on its upper face. This anvil-form 25 is made of conductive materialsuch as, for example, zinc mixed with aluminium, magnesium and copper.When the push-control member 24, and therefore also the moving section12 of the lighting mechanism, is moved longitudinally and arrives at theend of its course, an anvil-shaped member 25 sets up an electricalcontact between the electrode 20 and the lighting mechanism.

To enable longitudinal movement of the push-control member 24, the faceof this positioned opposite the electrode-carrier 22 has a groove,extending in a longitudinal direction, which accommodates the end of asecond electrode 20. Thus, when the push-control member 24 moves, theelectrode 20 can slide in relation to the push-control member 24 in thesaid groove.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first implementation in accordance with the presentinvention. The push-control member 24 is in a normal position, or idleposition in FIG. 1, that is, a user exerts no force on thispush-control.

The said push-control member 24 has an upper face 26 on which a user canact. This upper face 26, which is perpendicular to the plane of thisdiagram, supports two parallel, lateral walls 28 in the plane of thisdiagram, one in front of this plane, and one behind it. A wall member 30extends longitudinally between two said side walls 28 and is connectedto the upper face 26. The upper section 12 of the lighting-mechanismconcerned is accommodated between these walls.

The wall 30 has, on its surface facing the burner 4, a step 32 forming ashoulder. Facing this wall 30, there is an electrode-carrier 22 which isfixed to the body of the lighter 2. This latter includes a rib-member 34extending along the said electrode-carrier 22, although not over all ofthe height of this carrier. The said rib-member 34 faces the shoulder 32such that they form an abutment surface and a counter-abutment surface,limiting movement in the longitudinal direction of the push-controlmember 24 (arrow 36).

The said rib-member 34 can be an integral part of the body of thelighter 2, or it can be replaced by a shoulder implemented level withthe electrode-carrier 22, facing the shoulder 32.

So that the push-control member 24 can act on the lighting-mechanism, itis necessary to separate the wall member 30 from the electrode-carrier22.

The said push-control member is then moved transversely in relation tothe body of the lighter 2, as indicated by an arrow 38 in FIG. 2. Asmall bulge 27 implemented on the upper face of the push-control member26 on a rim opposite the electrode 20, facilitates movement whilstacting as an abutment means for the user's finger.

This movement is made against the elastic force of the tongue member 40.This latter runs essentially parallel to the wall member 30 of thepush-control member, and is located between two lateral walls 28 and isconnected to the upper surface 26. The free end of this tongue member issupported on an interior face 42 of the lighter body.

Once the push-control member 24 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, itcan be moved in the direction of the arrow 36 of FIG. 3 and act on thelighting mechanism concerned. When the user releases the saidpush-control member 24, it automatically returns to the position shownin FIG. 1, under the action of the return spring 16, and of a spring,not shown in the drawing, between the upper and lower sections 12 and 14of the said lighting mechanism, and by the tongue-member 40.

The push-control member 24 is guided in two directions (arrows 36 and38) in relation to the lighter-body 2 due to, amongst other things, thewall 30 and the tongue-member 40. For longitudinal guiding (arrow 36), asystem of rib-members each associated with a groove can be provided.Such a system exists on lighters of preceding state of the art. Thepush-control member 24 is provided with two longitudinal rib-members andthe body of the lighter concerned is provided with two correspondinggrooves. In a lighter in accordance with the present invention, thegrooves concerned stop below rib-members of the push-control member whenthis latter is in an idle position, and they are shifted in relation tothese in this same position. Grooves concerned are only positionedopposite rib-members if the push-control member has been movedtransversely (arrow 38).

FIGS. 4 to 7 show a second implementation of a lighter in accordancewith the present invention.

In this implementation, there is a push-control member 24 comprising anupper face 26, two lateral wall-members 28 and a tongue member 40.Differences in relation to the preceding implementation relate toabutment and counter-abutment faces.

A rib-member 44 extends approximately parallel to the axis of thelighter body 2, between the lighting mechanism and the burner 4. In theidle position (FIG. 4), a given distance separates the top of therib-member 44 from the upper face 26 of the push-control member. Thelatter comprises a wall forming a projection 46 extending between twolateral faces 28 and fixed below the upper section 26. The height ofthis projection 46 is less than the distance separating the top of therib-member 44 from the upper face 26. This projection 46 runs parallelto the said rib-member 44, nevertheless is shifted in relation to thisrib-member in the direction of the burner 4. The shift concernedessentially corresponds to the width of this rib-member 44.

FIG. 5 shows the push-control member 24 in the position in which it islocated when, from its normal position (FIG. 4), it is displaced in alongitudinal direction (arrow 36). The top of the rib 44 makes contactwith the upper wall 26 of the push-control member. It is thereforeimpossible to continue movement of this push-control member in thedirection of arrow 36, thereby preventing any actuation of the lightingmechanism concerned. To create a flame, it is necessary to release thepush-control member which returns automatically to the normal, idleposition (FIG. 4), and subsequently to move it in the direction of arrow38 so as to bring a projection 46 from alongside the rib-member 44 andfinally to press in the direction of arrow 36 to move the push-controlmember 24 longitudinally and so act on the lighting mechanism (FIG. 7).On releasing the push-control member 24, it automatically returns, underthe action of the return spring and of the tongue-member 40, to a normalposition as shown in FIG. 4.

A third implementation shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 comprises the push-controlmember 24 with its upper wall 26 and its lateral wall-sections 28 asdescribed above. The said push-control member moreover comprises twowall-sections 48 and 50 extending longitudinally between two lateralwall-sections 28 connected to an upper wall-section 26. The firstwall-section 48 is located alongside the burner 4 and the electrodecarrier 22, and the second wall-section 50 runs essentially parallel toit, though on the opposite side.

The wall-section 50 is in an extension of the outer wall of the lighterbody. Level with the rim of this body 2, it has a shoulder 52 andextends beyond this shoulder 52 to an interior of the lighter body 2.The said shoulder 52 thereby forms an abutment and the rim of thelighter body 2 forms a counter-abutment preventing the push-controlmember 24 from moving in the direction of arrow 36 (FIG. 10) from theidle position (FIG. 8).

The wall 48 runs parallel to the electrode-carrier 22 of the lighter andis located face-to-face with this. An elastic, metallic strip 54 isplaced astride the electrode-carrier 22. From alongside the push-controlmember 24, this strip 54 which, overall, is in the form of an invertedU-shape, is supported against a wall 48. On the side of the burner, thestrip 54 rests against the electrode-carrier 22 and its end is curved inthe direction of the said burner 4. This end constitutes the secondelectrode 20.

Functioning of this lighter resembles that of the two otherimplementations. From the idle position (FIG. 8), it is necessary tobring an abutment 52 into a non-active position in relation to itscounter-abutment by moving the push-control member 24 transversely inthe direction of arrow 56, that is, towards the burner 4. This movementis made against force exerted by the elastic strip 54 which undergoesdeformation. Once in the non-active position, the said push-controlmember 24 is moved downwards (arrow 36) to actuate the lightingmechanism concerned. At the end of its course, the anvil member 25 comesinto contact with the elastic strip 54, thereby enabling the electrode20 to be at the required potential.

By releasing the said push-control member 24, when it is in a positionother than its idle position, it automatically returns to this idleposition (FIG. 8) under the action of the return springs and of theelastic strip 54.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a fourth implementation. Here, the push-controlmember 24 comprises an upper wall 26 and two lateral walls 28 as in thethree other implementations concerned, and a wall-section 50 with ashoulder 52 functioning in combination with the rim of the lighter body2 as in the third implementation (FIGS. 8 to 10).

Facing the electrode-carrier 22, the push-control member 24 comprises atongue-member 58 provided with a groove in its centre to enable passageof a second electrode 20, as described initially in this description.This tongue-member 58 is essentially parallel to the wall section 50 andis connected to the upper wall-section 26 of the said push-controlmember. It extends longitudinally and is supported against theelectrode-carrier 22 of the lighter.

Here there is functioning which is similar to that described inconnection with FIGS. 8 to 10. Here, the functions of the elastic strip,namely of returning the push-control member 24 to a normal position(FIG. 11) and of functioning as an electrode, are separated. Theelectrode 20 is mounted in an electrode-carrier 22 such that itstraddles this. With movement in the direction of arrow 36, the saidelectrode slides in relation to the groove of the elastic tongue-member58 provided for this. When the push-control member 24 is in the loweredposition, electrical contact between the lighting mechanism and the saidelectrode is likewise implemented via an anvil member 25.

As in the other implementations, there is a need to produce a transversemovement (arrow 56 of FIG. 12) to arrive in a position in which abutmentand counter-abutment surfaces, of the push-control member and thelighter body, are non-active, before moving a said push-control memberlongitudinally (arrow 36 FIG. 13) to be able to actuate the lightingmechanism concerned.

The fifth implementation shown in annexed drawings (FIGS. 14 to 16)comprises the push-control member 24 with an upper wall member 26. Thesectional plan view shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is not the same as that ofthe other figures. It corresponds to a section line A--A in FIG. 1. Anormal, or idle, position is shown in FIG. 14.

Wall-sections on the side of the burner and on the side opposite thisburner are not shown as they do not have a particular function in termsof the present invention.

The lateral walls resemble elements already described above in referenceto preceding figures. A wall-section placed to the left in FIGS. 14 to16 is similar to wall-section 50 of FIGS. 8 to 13. Here it is marked byreference number 51 and its shoulder is marked 53. This shoulder 53functions in combination with the rim of the lighter body 2 in the sameway as the shoulder 52 in the third and fourth implementations.

A second lateral wall, placed to the right in FIGS. 14 to 16, is similarto the tongue-member 40 of FIGS. 1 to 7. Here it is marked 41 and issupported, like the said tongue-member 40, on an interior face 42 of thelighter body.

To be able to actuate the lighting-mechanism from the idle position(FIG. 14), it is necessary for the abutment face of the shoulder 53 tobe in a non-active position in relation to the rim of the lighter body.The push-control member 24 is then moved first transversely to the rightas shown in the figures, that is, in the direction of arrow 60 of FIG.15. This movement is carried out with deformation of an elastictongue-member 41 which then exerts a force, on the said push-controlmember, which tends to return this to its idle position. Once in thisnon-active position, the push-control member 24 can be moved so as toact on the lighting mechanism (FIG. 16).

As for implementations described further above, the push-control member24 automatically returns to its idle position (FIG. 14) when no actionis exerted on it, due to return springs and to the tongue-member 41. Thefinal implementation shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 differs from otherimplementations shown in that elastic means tending to return anabutment surface into the face-to-face position in relation to thecounter-abutment surface comprise a tongue-member 62 which iselastically deformable and integral with the electrode-carrier 22, andthis tongue-member 62 is not constricted when the push-control member 24is in the position (FIG. 19) controlling opening of the valve integratedinto a burner 4.

The said push-control member 24 used in this implementation is similarto the push-control member shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. In relation to thisimplementation, an elastic strip 54 is replaced by an electrode 20,mounted on the electrode-carrier 22, and by a tongue-member 62. Thistongue-member 62 parts from the electrode-carrier 22 in separating fromthis is in an upward direction. It is supported against wall-section 48of the push-control member (FIGS. 17 and 18). The tongue-member 62 maybe formed as part of the electrode-carrier 22, or fixed to theelectrode-carrier 22, or alternatively it may also be provided as aseparate independent component. As an independent component, thetongue-member 62 may be a leaf spring or alternatively in the form of ahelical spring, or any other suitable spring shape, freely arrangedbetween the electrode-carrier 22 and the push-control member 24. If thetongue-member 62 is provided as such a separate component, it may beretained in position by a suitable guide slot arranged on either theelectrode-carrier 22 or any suitable part of the push-control member 24.

This implementation likewise includes a variation of the implementationshown in FIGS. 4 to 7. In view of this, the wall-section 50 of thepush-control member comprises a shoulder 52 and also a projection 64extending longitudinally downwards. A free end of this wall-section istherefore U-shaped. A space located between the branches of this `U`faces, in the idle position, the rim 66 of the lighter body 2 (FIG. 17).It is sufficiently large to accommodate this rim 66, though, from anidle position, it is possible to transversely move the push-controlmember 24 without the projection 64 being an obstacle. Thus if, when thelighter concerned is used, the push-control member 24 is first movedlongitudinally, no further transverse movement is possible withoutpassing through an initial idle position.

In all forms of implementation described above, one sees that action ofthe lighting mechanism concerned requires a continued combination of twomovements, making it very difficult for a young child to use.Nevertheless, an adult can use these lighters fairly easily and can doso merely by acting on an upper face of the push-control member. Due tofriction between the user's finger and the upper face of the saidpush-control member, or due to an adapted form of this push-controlmember, it can be moved transversely, and then, without moving thefinger in relation to the push-control member, the user simply presseson it to operate the lighter.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the implementationsdescribed above by way of examples, instead it embraces all variations.

So for example, a lighter in accordance with the present invention doesnot have to be one with piezoelectric lighting. This lighter can includea lighting mechanism of a type with 6a flint and knurling-wheel.Rotation of a said knurling-wheel is then obtained by pressing down on apush-control member.

In the examples of implementation given, elastic means enabling returnof the push-control member to its idle position in a transversedirection are integrated into a component of the lighter, such as thepush-control member itself or the body of this lighter, or an electrode.These are preferred implementations, nevertheless means concerned caneasily comprise one independent part, such as, for example, a helicalspring, without departing from the present invention.

I claim:
 1. Lighter actuated by a push-control member (24) which canmove in a longitudinal direction, and which resists use by children, ofa type comprising a lighter-body (2) and lighting means comprising apush-control member, characterised in that the push-control member (24)is guided in two essentially perpendicular directions, a first direction(36) which is longitudinal in relation to a said lighter-body (2) and asecond direction which is transverse (38, 56, 60) in relation to thesame body (2), and in that the said push-control member (24) is providedwith an abutment face (32, 46, 52, 53) which is normally opposite acounter-abutment surface (34, 44, 2) which is integral with the saidlighter-body (2), and in that the said push-control member (24) can bemoved in a transverse direction (38, 56, 60) such that its abutment faceis then in a non-active position relative to its counter-abutmentsurface, and in that elastic means (40, 54, 58, 41, 62) act in atransverse direction (38, 56, 60) to return the said abutment face ofthe push-control member to a position opposite the said counter-abutmentsurface, means being provided to return the said push-control memberinto a position of rest in the longitudinal direction.
 2. Lighter inaccordance with claim 1, characterised in that elastic means act on thepush-control member (24) on the side opposite the side carrying theabutment face.
 3. Lighter in accordance with claim 1, characterised inthat elastic means comprise an elastic tongue-member (40, 58, 41)essentially extending in the longitudinal direction of the lighter-body,which can be deformed in a transverse direction by transverse movementof the push-control member (24) and which functions in combination withthis push-control member (24).
 4. Lighter including a piezoelectriclighting-mechanism in accordance with claim 1, characterised in thatsaid elastic means comprise a metal strip (54), which is essentiallyU-shaped forms branches, carried by a wall (22) which is part of thelighter body (2) and positioned nearly parallel to the wall (48) of thesaid push-control member, one of the branches of the said strip beingsupported against the wall of this push-control member and beingelastically deformable, a second branch being curved at its end andacting as an electrode (20), and in that the piezoelectric lightingmechanism (12, 14) has at least one section made from conductivematerial such that it can create an electrical link with said metalstrip at the end of the longitudinal course of the push-control member(24).
 5. Lighter in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that saidelastic means comprises an elastic tongue-member (62) extendingessentially in the longitudinal direction of the lighter and beingdeformable in the transverse direction of movement of the push-controlmember (24) and being integral with an electrode-carrier (22). 6.Lighter in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that the elastictongue-member (62), mounted on the electrode-carrier (22), is separablefrom the electrode-carrier and movable away from the electrode-carrierin an upward direction.
 7. Lighter in accordance with claim 1,characterised in that the abutment face is implemented level with ashoulder (32, 52, 53) of the push-control member.
 8. Lighter inaccordance with claim 1, characterised in that the counter-abutment faceis the top of a rib (44, 66) which runs essentially longitudinally, andthe said push-control member (24) includes a wall-member forming aprojection (46, 64), parallel to the said rib-member (44, 66), with aheight whereby, when the push-control member is moved in a transversedirection (38, 56), away from its idle position, it does not come upagainst the said rib (44, 66), and placed such that when the saidpush-control member (24) is moved from its idle position in alongitudinal direction (36, 56), an internal surface of the wall-memberconcerned, forming a projection, slides along the said rib-member. 9.Lighter in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that longitudinalguiding of the push-control member (24) is favourably implemented withthe aid of a system of ribs each of which is associated with a groove,the said push-control member (24) being provided with two rib-membersand the lighter-body (2) concerned being provided with two correspondinggrooves, said grooves stopping below said rib members in the idleposition of the push-control member (24) and being shifted transverselyin relation to these, such that the ribs concerned are engaged in thecorresponding grooves when the push-control member (24) has been movedtransversely and starts its longitudinal course.